Alstroemeria plant named ‘Tesvalen imp.’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Tesvalen imp.’, characterized by its broadly upright plant habit; relatively short flowering stems; sturdy and strong plants; moderately vigorous growth habit; numerous large dark red-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Alstroemeria hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘TESVALEN imp.’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofAlstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida, growntypically as a potted garden Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Tesvalen imp.’.

The new Alstroemeria plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands. Theobjective of the breeding program is to create new potted gardenAlstroemeria plants with numerous attractive flowers and flowercontinuously during the flowering season.

The new Alstroemeria plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutationof Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Tesvalen’, not patented. The new Alstroemeriaplant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single floweringplant from within a population of plants of ‘Tesvalen’ in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands in May, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Alstroemeria plant by root divisions ina controlled greenhouse environment in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlandssince September, 2013 has shown that the unique features of this newAlstroemeria plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Tesvalen imp.’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Tesvalen imp.’ as a new and distinctAlstroemeria plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright plant habit; relatively short flowering        stems.    -   2. Sturdy and strong plants; moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Numerous large dark red-colored flowers.    -   4. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the mutationparent, ‘Tesvalen’. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants of‘Tesvalen’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria are larger and more vigorous        than plants of ‘Tesvalen’.    -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria have larger leaves than plants        of ‘Tesvalen’.    -   3. Plants of the new Alstroemeria have larger flowers than        plants of ‘Tesvalen’.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of theAlstroemeria hybrida ‘Tesrobin’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.19,354. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Alstroemeriadiffer primarily from plants of ‘Tesrobin’ in flower color as plants of‘Tesrobin’ had lighter red-colored flowers. Additionally, plants of thenew Alstroemeria had longer lateral branches than plants of ‘Tesrobin’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Alstroemeria plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Alstroemeria plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of typical floweringplants of ‘Tesvalen imp.’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photograph and following observationsand measurements were grown during the winter and early spring in 24-cmcontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Kudelstaart, TheNetherlands. During the production of the plants, day temperaturesranged from 12° C. to 15° C. and night temperatures averaged 12° C.Plants used in the photograph were 15 weeks old and plants used for thedescription were 22 weeks old. Color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Tesvalen imp.’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Alstroemeria    hybrida ‘Tesvalen’, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By root divisions.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About seven            weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About eight            weeks at temperatures about 16° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous and fleshy; thick to thin;            typically white in color, actual color of the roots is            dependent on substrate composition, water quality,            fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and            physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.        -   Rhizome length.—About 13 cm.        -   Rhizome diameter.—About 4 mm.        -   Rhizome texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Rhizome luster.—Slightly glossy.        -   Rhizome color.—Close to 4D.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; broadly            upright plant habit with relatively short flowering stems,            globular; freely branching habit with about 20 primary            lateral branches developing per plant; sturdy and strong            plants; moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 29.7 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 35.7 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Aspect.—Mostly upright to outwardly spreading.        -   Length.—About 16.8 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 6 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 9 mm.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; waxy.        -   Luster.—Matte.        -   Color.—Close to 146A to 146B; with development, color            becoming closer to 152A to darker than 152A; waxy cuticle,            close to 198D.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; below the peduncles in a single            whorl; simple.        -   Length.—About 5.6 cm.        -   Width.—About 3.1 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate to narrowly ovate; twisting.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Surface faces            downwards; close to 137C. Developing leaves, lower surface:            Surface faces upwards; close to between 141A and 143A. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Surface faces downwards;            close to 137C; venation, close to 144A. Fully expanded            leaves, lower surface: Surface faces upwards; close to            N137B; venation, close to 144B.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 3.9 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm by            6 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.            Luster, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly glossy. Color:            Close to 144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single zygomorphic flowers arranged            in terminal umbels; flowers face mostly outwardly to            slightly upright; perianth segments separate; freely            flowering habit with about 19 flowers per inflorescence and            about 120 flowers developing per plant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about eight            weeks after planting; flowering continuous from summer into            the autumn in The Netherlands.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About ten days; flowers not            persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.3 cm.            Shape: Obovate. Color: Close to 145D; towards the apex,            close to 59A and between 59B and 203B; towards the base,            close to 143B.        -   Umbel height.—About 10.3 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—About 16.7 cm.        -   Flower diameter (horizontal).—About 6.8 cm.        -   Flower length (vertical).—About 7 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 6.6 cm.        -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each            whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Size, inner            perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 6.4 cm. Width,            lateral segments: About 2.6 cm. Length, median segment:            About 5.7 cm. Width, median segment: About 2.5 cm. Size,            outer perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 6.7 cm.            Width, lateral segments: About 4 cm. Length, median segment:            About 6.2 cm. Width, median segment: About 3.7 cm. Shape,            inner perianth, lateral and median segments: Oblanceolate.            Shape, outer perianth, lateral and median segments: Obovate.            Apex, inner perianth, lateral and median segments: Abruptly            acute. Apex, outer perianth, lateral and median segments:            Emarginate. Base, inner perianth, lateral and median            segments: Narrowly cuneate. Base, outer perianth, lateral            and median segments: Long cuneate. Margin, inner perianth,            lateral and median segments: Entire. Margin, outer perianth,            lateral and median segments: Towards the apex, finely            serrate; towards the base, entire. Texture, inner and outer            perianths, lateral and median segments, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety. Luster,            inner perianth, lateral and median segments, upper surface:            Matte. Luster, inner perianth, lateral and median segments,            lower surface: Slightly glossy. Luster, outer perianth,            lateral and median segments, upper surface: Matte. Luster,            inner perianth, lateral and median segments, lower surface:            Moderately glossy. Color, inner perianth: When opening,            lateral segments, upper surface: Distally, close to 53C;            apex, close to 53A; proximally, close to 54C and 55C; spots,            close to N186A. When opening, median segment, upper surface:            Close to 53C; apex, close to 53A; spots, close to N186A.            When opening, lateral segments, lower surface: Distally,            close to 53B; proximally, close to 54A; spots, close to            N186A. When opening, median segment, lower surface: Close to            53A to 53B; spots, close to N186A. Fully opened, lateral            segments, upper surface: Distally, close to between 46B and            53A; proximally, close to 51A to 51B; spots, close to            between N186A; color becoming closer to 53D with            development. Fully opened, median segment, upper surface:            Distally, close to 53B; proximally, close to 46C; spots,            close to N186A; color becoming closer to 53D with            development. Fully opened, lateral segments, lower surface:            Distally, close to 53B to 53C; proximally, close to 53D;            spots, close to N186A. Fully opened, median segment, lower            surface: Distally, close to 53B; proximally, close to 53C;            spots, close to N186A. Color, outer perianth: When opening,            lateral and median segments, upper surface: Distally, close            to 53A; apex, strongly tinged with close to 203B;            proximally, close to 63A to 63B. When opening, lateral and            median segments, lower surface: Distally, close to 53A to            53B; apex, strongly tinged with close to 203B; proximally,            close to 53D. Fully opened, lateral and median segments,            upper surface: Distally, close to 53B to 53C; apex, strongly            tinged with close to 59A; proximally, close to 47A to 47B;            color becoming closer to 53C with development. Fully opened,            lateral and median segments, lower surface: Close to 53B;            apex, close to 203B.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 3.3 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Angle: About 30° from stem            axis. Texture: Smooth, glabrous; waxy. Color, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to 146A; waxy layer, close to 198D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.            Filament length: About 3.7 cm. Filament color: Close to 53A;            towards the base, close to 53D. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther            length: About 8 mm. Anther color: Close to 183A. Pollen            amount: None observed. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.            Pistil length: About 4.2 cm. Style length: About 3.3 cm.            Style color: Close to 53C; towards the base, lighter than            53C. Stigma shape: Tri-parted; parts, club-shaped, curved.            Stigma color: Close to 53B. Ovary color: Close to 143B with            ribbing, close to N186A.        -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed development have not been            observed on plants of the new Alstroemeria.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Alstroemeria plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been    observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate high    temperatures of about 35° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone    8.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Alstroemeria plant named ‘Tesvalenimp.’ as illustrated and described.